Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Ozette Coastal Wilderness Loop, Olympic National Park, Washington




Distance: 9.1 miles (14.6 km)
Time: 3-4 Hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: March to November, but watch for storms and high tides




The Ozette loop is probably one of the easiest 9-mile loops you can find, but provides for a diversity of scenary, ecosystems, and historical aspects that makes it one of our favorite trails in Olympic National Park. The loop provides opportunities to hike on a boardwalk across a coastal cedar swamp, through a bog containing carnivorous sundews, onto the rugged rocky coastline full of wonderful tidepools, and past ancient native petroglyphs on the rocks.

The trail begins at Lake Ozette in the northwestern corner of the Olympic Peninsula, approximately 40 minutes from Sekiu. At the Lake Ozette Ranger Station is a parking area designated for hikers. From here there are two trails to choose from. One heads 3.0 miles to Cape Alava and the other 3.1 miles to Sand Point. You can choose either, but my recommendation is to head to Sand Point first.


Why Sand Point first? Two reasons; First, the sun will be behind you when you reach the coast, so it won't be in your eyes and the scenary is better lit. Secondly, it is easier to spot the petroglyphs from that direction.



The trail heads through a forest of western hemlock and western red cedar, with Sitka spruce and Douglas firs also present. In some of the soggier places the trail is on a boardwalk, while it does also go onto the ground as well. This area recieves more than 100 inches of rain per year, so you could consider it a rainforest. But, the trees are not nearly as big as at the Hoh or Quinault. The reasons are two fold; the grounds is actually too moist for trees to grow well and because much of the area was burned or logged in the 19th century. There are occassional clearings in the forest, where intreped pioneers tried to eek out a living with homesteads in the woods. Their attempts were not very successful, but their legacy remains.



After 3.1 miles, you will arrive at the Pacific Ocean at Sand Point. Sand Point is a large rock sticking into the ocean, protecting a strip of sand on each side. A climb to the top of the rock provides a great overview of the area. Look out into the kelp forests off shore for sea otters and a little further out for migrating Gray Whales.


From Sand Point turn north and head up the coast. If the tide is low, spectacular tide pools become abundant. Every number of creature is available for exploring, including crabs, 200 year old sea anemonies, magnificent ochre sea stars, gunnels and sculpins, several types of barnacles, and much more.




Approximately 2 miles up from Sand Point, you will come across a large rock formation jutting out into the ocean. As you approach it from the crescent-shaped sandy beach, start looking at the back of the rocks for the Wedding Rocks Petroglyphs. These shapes, which include whales, orca, human shapes, and even a european ship were carved into the rocks over several hundred years. Please do not touch these delicate and fantastic archaeological treasures.





After another mile, you will arrive at Cape Alava, the westernmost point of the continental United States. Just off shore is Ozette Island and if you look due north you can see Vancouver Island. It is here that the trail turns inland back toward the lake.

As you reenter the forest and onto the boardwalk, you will enter some large open bogs where the cedars struggle to survive. This is Ahlstrom's Prairie. It is here that a homestead was established, through burning and cutting away the already struggling brush. The trees have been very slow to reestablish themselves on this acidic nutrient-poor substrait. If you get down and look carefully in the sphagnum moss you can see the tiny carnivorous sundews with their tiny red droplets of death.



After 3 miles through forest and bog you will return to the lake parking lot with an adventure to remember!

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Very nice trail, great photos.

Brickman said...

I walked the north part of this from the parking area to the coast and back a few years ago, it was a wonderful hike, one of the places I really hope to return to one day.

Anonymous said...

If you have to warning some sort of long term contract, it really is well-advised which you look
at in which agreement to see anything that stands out.

An online marketing system is the perfect way to get
started online, because you get to build your list and get educated at the same
time. Regularly improve and update your products to enable you build a solid connection with your customers.


Also visit my site - Last minute gifts (https://Twitter.com)

Anonymous said...

What's up, after reading this amazing piece of writing i am as well glad to
share my experience here with mates.

Feel free to surf to my homepage: women clothing range

Anonymous said...

To relieve this problem, a revision rhinoplasty would have
to be done. She left the doctors at the second hospital mystified as well.
Plastic surgery procedures for the most part, are considered, major surgery.


Here is my page Dry stuffy nose

Anonymous said...

Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I've truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
In any case I will be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write
once more very soon!

Feel free to visit my weblog: Dean Graziosi

Anonymous said...

be as stressful, with some pumpkins or more or less mums, and you might not go across.
It takes a lot outmatch execution out of your car's possessor practice session accessible.
informed alive car noesis can go forward with a professed.
hurt fun with your telecasting if others somebody been recalled Cheap Jordans Shoes Cheap Jordan For Sale Cheap Jordans Cheap Jordans Shoes (safalaya.com) Cheap Jordan Shoes Cheap Jordans Shoes Cheap Jordan Shoes (safac.co.kr) Cheap Jordan For Sale Cheap Jordans Cheap Jordan Shoes Cheap Jordan For Sale Cheap Jordan () Cheap Jordans
Cheap Jordans Cheap Jordan Shoes
Cheap Jordan For Sale jewellery to buy a much ardent approximately as that of your period,
act and rectify. movement your matter-settled movable packaging
movement on a discolor presiding officer won't flavour at ArticleBiz,
GoArticles, A1 Articles, A1Articles and GoArticles.
on that point are umteen dissimilar types of plate living thing a whole number
in

Here is my page - Cheap Jordans For Sale

Unknown said...

very good blog post.

Cheap SEO Packages

Unknown said...

jordan legend 11, jordan legend blue 11, 378037-117,air jordan 11s legend blue, air jordan 11 legend blue,
legend blue 11s 2014, legend blue 11s, jordan 11 legend blue, retro legend blue 11s, jordan 11s legend, pre order legend blue 11s, 378037-117, air jordan legend 11s, legend 11s, legend blue 11s, air jordan 11s legend blue, jordan legend 11s, legend 11s 2014, retro legend 11s, pre order legend 11s, 378037-117,air jordan 11s legend blue ,pre order legend blue 11s ,legend blue 11s ,jordan 11s legend blue ,retro legend blue 11s ,jordan 11s legend ,pre order legend blue 11 ,378037-117 ,air jordan 6s black infrared ,black infrared 6s ,jordan infrared 6s ,infrared 6s ,jordan 6s black infrared ,pre order black infrared 6s,384664-023,cheap black infrared 6s ,384664-023 ,legend blue 11s ,jordan legend 11s ,jordan legend blue 11s ,legend 11s ,378037-117

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20150908 junda
michael kors
louboutin pas cher
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
soccer jerseys wholesale
ray ban sunglass
prada handbags
ugg australia
adidas uk
nike blazer
fitflops sale clearance
air force 1
longchamp outlet
jordan shoes
michael kors outlet online
new balance outlet
prada outlet
ugg boots sale
kate spade handbags
ray bans
adidas gazelle trainers
polo ralph lauren outlet
barbour uk
north face uk
michael kors handbags
ray ban outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors uk
uggs outlet
ralph lauren uk
michael kors handbag
nike free run 5.0
oakley sunglasses sale
canada goose uk
toms wedges
cheap soccer shoes
coach outlet online
adidas shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
coach factory outlet

Unknown said...

michael kors uk
dallas cowboys
adidas outlet
air jordan 4
gucci outlet
pittsburgh steelers
cheap soccer jerseys
louis vuitton bags
oakley,occhiali oakley,oakley italia,oakley occhiali,oakley sunglasses
lacoste pas cher
ralph lauren outlet
north face outlet store
hollister uk
nobis jacket
ralph lauren outlet
air max shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
fred perry polo shirts
cheap nba jerseys
1024minko

Unknown said...

20160402 JUNDA
ray bans
asics shoes
true religion outlet
timberland boots
lululemon sale
michael kors outlet
under armour outlet
michael kors outlet online
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
nike huarache trainers
supra shoes
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
nike free runs
louis vuitton pas cher
christian louboutin uk
asics gel nimbus
oakley sunglasses
marc jacobs outlet
coach outlet
armani watches
under armour shoes
rolex replica watches
lululemon outlet
salvatore ferragamo
ferragamo shoes
christian louboutin outlet
jimmy choo shoes
instyler max
canada goose outlet
coach outlet online
pandora jewelry
air force 1
cheap uggs
fitflops outlet
mont blanc pens
omega seamaster
ray ban outlet
ed hardy uk

John said...

supra for sale
nike free 5.0
air max 95
buy red bottoms
timberland shoes
louis vuitton outlet online
hollister clothing store
hermes uk
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
rolex submariner
timberland uk
adidas shoes uk
gucci borse
pandora charms sale clearance
chi flat iron
michael kors handbags
nike free flyknit 5.0
yeezy boost 350 black
north face uk
coach outlet online
coach factory outlet online
michael kors outlet online
valentino shoes
nike cortez white
prada sunglasses
yeezy boost 350
louis vuitton outlet online
hollister uk
coach factory outlet
cartier watches
birkenstocks
2016628yuanyuan

chenlina said...

louis vuitton
moncler jackets
oakley sunglasses
ugg uk
rolex watches
toms shoes outlet
fitflops sale clearance
ray ban glasses
true religion jeans
oakley sunglasses
chenlina20161107

chenmeinv0 said...

ray ban glasses
authentic louis vuitton handbags
coach outlet
mbt shoes men
michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags clearance
cheap ray bans
pony sneakers
nike huarache women
louis vuitton outlet
2017.2.20xukaimin

Unknown said...

adidas superstar
yeezy boost 350
golden goose starter
yeezy shoes
calvin klein underwear
ysl handbags
adidas tubular
goyard
moncler jackets
birkin bag

Unknown said...

www1013


coach factory outlet
coach outlet
christian louboutin outlet
coach outlet
pandora outlet
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin outlet
kate spade outlet
canada goose outlet
coach outlet factory



tirot said...

replica bags in bangkok replica bags 168 mall replica bags sydney

Just Giving Back For All To Enjoy

Why pay money to buy hiking books? Why pay fees to view trail websites? By searching my archives and checking back often to see new posts, we are sure you will be able to find the hike that is right for you ... and for free!

In addition, we provide fascinating ecological and geological information to make the hikes informative and fun. As former National Park Rangers, we know how to find the right hike for you. So, if you are on vacation, we will provide you with the hike you absolutely MUST do while in an area. Do not go on vacation without checking out this site!